I've been meaning to try DnD for quite a long time now but there seems to be nothing that will tell you how the game is played so I can see if I would like it or not. I've looked up numerous guides on the internet and the first thing they all say is to buy and read one of the various books. What I wan't to know is basically how to get started. I was linked to many different books starter sets etc. Now out of those most of them said you will have to buy the other books shortly after which I would like to avoid. Like some of the starter sets come with mats that are lands/areas whatever do I need these to play? Are there seperate books that are for different areas? I'm seriously lost at how the game works all together.
What I think I know:
- The player handbook holds information on creating your characters.
- Monster guide pretty much self explanitory all monsters/stats for those monsters.
tl;dr
What do I need to play?
Need? A group that has people willing to teach, otherwise books and dice
Not exactly the reply I was hoping for. Can you play with just the core 3 books? Would probably need a set of dice as well but is that all you need to play? The area mats that come with the starter set, are they required or only there to make the game easier? Do you have to buy area books or something?
How far would I be able to get with just this...
I will reply concerning only Edition 3.0/3.5, as it's the one I started out with, and the only one I'm familiar enough with to feel comfortable speaking for. You need the three Core Books (OK, just to start out, PH and MM will do, but once you get to third level or so, DMG will be essential, plus it's a really good book, so you might as well get it right away). Next up, you'll need dice, most of all (duh) a d20 (I found it possible, when I started out, to simulate all other dice with just d6s and d20s, but if you have the means, go ahead and get what you need, namely: one four-sided, two six-sided, an eight-sided, two ten-sided (if possible of different colours, or one with multiples of ten; used to simulate a d100), a twelve-sided (possibly the least important), and, of course, a twenty-sided die; dice are cheap, and an integral part of the hobby, so starting a small collection right away will save you some trouble later). Other than that, you don't really need anything - character sheets can be photocopied from the books, printed from the internet or, as in my group, done by hand, and no other books are required. By "area books", I assume you mean stuff like Frostfell? Those are icing on the cake if you happen to play in such an environment, but aren't necessary to begin with. Neither are battlemats - my group has always played out battle purely narratively.
So my advice is: get the core set and some dice; read into it to understand how it all works; convince some other geeks to try it out with you; once you have all of that, look over the splatbooks again - you'll see them with a completely different eye - and decide which ones you'd like.
Good Hunting!
EDIT: Just saw your new post. Sorry, can't really speak for 4th ed, but I'd assume it's similar.
Thanks thats more of what I was looking for. I'll see what deals I can find on the things you mentioned. As for the area thing what I meant was like the starter set I linked came with a bunch of tiles that are supposed to be places what exactly are they is it just something that is only in the starter guide to make the DM's job easier or something?
Hi,
To make it short and simple, you need only the 3 core books to play.
1.Player's Handbook, 2.Dungeons Master Guide and 3.Monster Manual.
But, you could try with the free starter kit and see if you like it first. It is a set on condensed rules just to try out the game with a pre-made adventure (Keep on the Shadowfell).
Ask a couple of friends, determine who will be the dungeon master, read the rules a bit and you're ready to go.
The battlemat and the figurines are to help represent combat actions. It really help get a good grasp of all the options and tactics you can do with your character. But, all you rally need is graph paper or something with one-inch squares and tokens to represent players (or bottle caps or whatever). If you like the hobby you can buy miniatures afterward.
I think the tiles that come with the starter kit are to fit the dungeon layout of the adventure within, but they are reusable.
Hoping this helps a bit.
Cheers.
step 1 - check my sig. lots of free goodies for you to fool around with and explore. don't start off planning a whole campaign. just absorb the core of the material. the general forums & off topic taven can answer some basic questions, but i would strongly recommend going to the appropriate forum if you have a specific query... you'll get the accurate answers faster IMO.
step 2 - find an existing group and explain you're new then ask if you sit in with your notebook & pencil. don't interrupt, take detailed notes and ask questions based on what you've noticed. doesn't matter how small it seems, take note & ask. only way you'll learn. then, take those findings, examine them and if you need a second opinion, here's where i recommend the general & off-topic forums. lots of opinions that need to be taken with many a grain of salt.
step 3 - if you plan on GMing, check out the premade modules, be it 3rd ed or 4th ed. once you're comfortable the concept of modules, you'll have an idea on how to plan out an adventure or two. i recommend starting small: modify a pre-existing one and run a few mock encounters. once you feel comfortable, make your own.
again, see my sig for free ones. the "Campaign & Adventure Workshop" section of the forums will have loads of recommendations & help to give you.
Thanks thats more of what I was looking for. I'll see what deals I can find on the things you mentioned. As for the area thing what I meant was like the starter set I linked came with a bunch of tiles that are supposed to be places what exactly are they is it just something that is only in the starter guide to make the DM's job easier or something?
All right first off the starter set will not take you to level 30(won't take you past level 3 likely). You should buy the Players Handbook, the Monster Manual, and Dugeon Masters Guide. Those three books are the only books are the only ones you need.
I suggest that you grab yourself a copy of the 3.5 SRD, if that's the edition you want to try. No fluff, but you get most of the monsters and psonics rules. All for free, and all in easily printable documents.
That's a good point. The 3.5 SRD is available online and for free. It is, however, missing some key components like Experience tables. It's also missing some non-key info such as proprietary stuff like certain spell names (the spells are there, they're just renamed) and monsters.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that 3.5 and 4e are pretty much totally different games. Deciding which edition to try is the first thing you should do.
Jeebus, TMK. Overreact much? Oh yeah, it's you. My bad. :P
I like 3.5 just as much as 4e and 2e. Sometimes I miss 3.5 and all of the crazy options. 4e, though, has really increased the options available - not just by adding classes, either. The Hybid rules, well, rule. You can totally break class/role conventions with this system. It's neat-o. So neat-o, in fact, that I can't see myself playing a class by itself again. In 3.5, I rarely MC'd for some reason. Now I can't help but think of every character concept as a Hybrid.
...
I noticed you sig'd that. I think describes you nicely. :D
Exactly why I did so.
Pity I can't link to the original post...
There's no way to do that in sigs yet? I've never tried myself.
I can't find one...
Shall we get back on topic?
Topics are for chumps. And chumpettes.
Topics are for chumps. And chumpettes.
And Disney movies.
Topics are for chumps. And chumpettes.
And Disney movies.
You mean music...
Disney music?......... cannot....process...sanity....insanity......aaaarrrrgggghhhh.
Must Kill Disney Music Producers.
Must Kill Disney Music Producers.
Disney music?......... cannot....process...sanity....insanity......aaaarrrrgggghhhh.
Must Kill Disney Music Producers.
Don't forget that chick who raped Magic Carpet Ride with a rusted, spiked steel rod, murdered it like it was some hooker, cut it apart, and crudely stitched it back together. She needs to die very, very slowly and painfully. Solomon's Pyramid, perhaps?
Must Kill Disney Music Producers.
I object to your objection on the grounds the Evil Disney corparation did not make that song in fact they only changed who sang it and added less then ten words.
Disney music?......... cannot....process...sanity....insanity......aaaarrrrgggghhhh.
Must Kill Disney Music Producers.
Don't forget that chick who raped Magic Carpet Ride with a rusted, spiked steel rod, murdered it like it was some hooker, cut it apart, and crudely stitched it back together. She needs to die very, very slowly and painfully. Solomon's Pyramid, perhaps?
Thank you for the soothing words of violence
HEY! Someone deleted my post!
All I did was liken 4.0 to the 3.5 creature sub-type Abomination, an some moderator deleted it...
I've been meaning to try DnD for quite a long time now but there seems to be nothing that will tell you how the game is played so I can see if I would like it or not. I've looked up numerous guides on the internet and the first thing they all say is to buy and read one of the various books. What I wan't to know is basically how to get started. I was linked to many different books starter sets etc. Now out of those most of them said you will have to buy the other books shortly after which I would like to avoid. Like some of the starter sets come with mats that are lands/areas whatever do I need these to play? Are there seperate books that are for different areas? I'm seriously lost at how the game works all together.
What I think I know:
- The player handbook holds information on creating your characters.
- Monster guide pretty much self explanitory all monsters/stats for those monsters.
There were some good suggestions following your original post. I advise purchasing the Player's Handbook and the Starter Set. The Starter Set comes with sample Character Sheets, dice, a DM book with mini-adventure, and Quick Start Rules. If you can find other players that will guide you through demo play of the mini-adventure, you'll be on your way to learning the game.
Any maps, map tiles, tokens, miniatures, etc. are extras that enhance play by adding visuals. They are fun accessories but are not necessary for a beginner. You can use anything as game tokens (stones, pennies, pawns, candy, etc.) to represent characters and monsters. The Starter Set provides some of these to make it more fun.
The maps and tiles can be fun but limiting if you wish to do any writing or drawing. You can add transparency overlays and use transparency markers. Our group uses a large battle mat with a sheet of glass over it, and we draw with dry erase markers.
Hope this helps. Good luck and have fun!
Nisha